2.5" Old Man Emu Lift Kit...Light, Medium, or Heavy Load??

[JR74CJ5]

here's a pic of the front with their kit installed - you can figure if your winch plate will work, mine was all custom so worked fine (built into the bumper... )



gets a little tight under the bumper: we had to notch the new bracket / mount to get it to fit tighter...



The shock mounts they sent were too long for the shocks. Had to cut and reweld the mounts. took around 4" out of them. The shocks themselves were ok.

Brake line extensions didn't work for me, ended up getting a new set of one piece braided steel instead.

just be prepared for grinding, cutting, and drilling and pay attention to the instructions and spring orientation. If you have any problems, I'll PM you my email address and phone number too in case you need it. I just went through it all.

Every jeep is different, yours may go together without a hitch


~ Jr

 

[JPSOUP]

here's a pic of the front with their kit installed - you can figure if your winch plate will work, mine was all custom so worked fine (built into the bumper... )



gets a little tight under the bumper: we had to notch the new bracket / mount to get it to fit tighter...



The shock mounts they sent were too long for the shocks. Had to cut and reweld the mounts. took around 4" out of them. The shocks themselves were ok.

Brake line extensions didn't work for me, ended up getting a new set of one piece braided steel instead.

just be prepared for grinding, cutting, and drilling and pay attention to the instructions and spring orientation. If you have any problems, I'll PM you my email address and phone number too in case you need it. I just went through it all.

Every jeep is different, yours may go together without a hitch


~ Jr

Jr, that's GREAT info...thanks!

My winch plate shouldn't be an issue either, should be welded on too. Don't have it yet though.

Shocks are actually from RIO and they said should work fine. I'll keep my fingers crossed

I'm expecting issues and I got your PM so I'll email when it happens. I really appreciate the help!

 

[PaRenegade]

Old Dog - I'll have to get back to you on this after I make a list.

What I meant about my winch plate comment was that some plates wrap around the side of the frame. But if the RR hangers are there it creates a conflict for space or requires some modifying of the plate to work.

Shocks that come from OME were designed (with respect to length) for their 2 1/2" lift. But if RRO adds another inch there may be extended length issues.

 

[JPSOUP]

Good lookin out PA. I am hoping for the best here and expecting the worst. Shocks are "backordered" so this isn't giving me the warm fuzzies yet.

Here's hoping. Will update.

P.S. Good wheelin' out that way? Beautiful country for sure. I drive 322 frequently for work.

 

[PaRenegade]

Not anywhere near like it used to be. Trails got gated or areas logged out, posted signs, etc. I do most of my trail riding or exploring anymore on a dual sport. But I must say too that my Jeep has been apart for almost 3 years now for a restore and prior to that it didn't get used much due to not trusting a rusted frame and a lack of people to go with anymore. At one time a bunch of friends had Jeeps, now there are very few Jeeps even left around. Theres a ton of wranglers but most of them don't venture any further than the mountain roads, which can be done in a car. I would like to check out Rausch Creek once mines back up and running (trouble free).
Yep, I drive 322 everyday. Runs right thru Lewistown.

The shock thing is always on my mind and has the potential to really bum me out. I got Bilstein 5100's that are supposed to be for 3-4" lifted vehicles. Mine is a 2 1/2" OME lift with 1" more in shackles, so I'm at roughly 3 1/2" in suspension lift. Sitting as is with the engine back in and just the tub on it, they seem to be all but an inch shy of max extension. So that leaves very little downward travel left to flex. And the shocks should be neither the bump stops or the travel limiter. So it has me concerned that my shocks may be too short. I've heard of people getting 3" from a 2 1/2" OME setup. I was going to wait till last to buy shocks but I got a really good deal on them last christmas ($69 ea to my door vs. $89 ea plus shipping)

 

[PaRenegade]

Old Dog - Here's that list. Most prices include some shipping and/or tax so they're within a couple dollars of total cost.
4 OME springs (CS036R) -$416
OME bushings - $90
U bolts (Rancho) -$64
Front shackle hangers (MORE) -$77
Greas. bolts & sleeves (ok4wd) -$117
U bolt skid plates all 4 (ok4wd / Warrior brand) -$200
shackles F&R (Warrior Products) -$111

So roughly $1075 without shocks.

 

[JPSOUP]

Pa, I'll let you know how the shocks are. I was told they are "backordered" so we'll see what that ends up meaning for me.

I'm at $1150 for the OME kit from Rocky Road Off-road if they come through for me. So we're not too far apart with our out-of-pocket expense on it. I'm not getting U-bolts but I am getting brake line extensions. For the newbie that I am I'll pay the extra couple of bucks from where you are just so I'm sure that I'm getting everything.

I talked to Eddie from GPF; turns out the winch plate that he made has slotted bolt holes for mounting. Looks like I'll be able to spread the winch plate mount over the shackle hangers. Phew.

If you make it out to Rausch Creek let me know. I'm transforming the Jeep this spring and am working on convincing the wife and kids (only my wife needs persuasion) to go wheeling this summer or sooner.

 

[Neuner]

Sorry not a CJ but I got the Hvy Duty OME 2.5" on my old XJ and LOVED it. It had a very firm ride because I didn't have much in weight like a winch or tire carrier on the back to offset when it was installed. Took a while to break it in but even with the firm ride the articulation was awesome. I had quick disconnects on the front sway bar and had completely removed the rear when I got it and it still handled well. Later, after it was broken in, I had my spare on the roof. A couple of times I forgot to re-connect the sway and headed down the slow curvy backroad and it would lean......

PO put on the 4.5" RE Extreme Duty on my CJ and it is so much like the OME lift. Really impressed with both.

 

[JPSOUP]

Update:

I called RRO a few days ago to ask a question raised on this thread. They did okay answering the question, but when I asked when it would ship, they informed me that the shocks were on back order and would be in later in the week.

So I called on Friday (thinking that's pretty late in the week). I asked if the shocks had arrived to ship the kit. I was informed that not only had the shocks not arrived (they were now back ordered until NEXT week) the OME springs were back ordered from the importer with no known date of receipt. They did try to contact some other warehouses an no one had them.

I cancelled my order and went to OK4WD on my way home and picked up the Rock Equipment Granite Kt and the OME YJ lift kit. I paid considerably more but I can see the quality difference between the two and having them 40 minutes down the road helps quite a bit. Jim hooked me up and knows his stuff. Turns out there was another CJ in the parking lot that just had the same kit installed that day so I saw it.

If anyone chooses to order from Rocky Road Outfitters, just make sure everything is in stock.

 

[PaRenegade]

Good deal. Curious, were the sleeves drilled with a grease hole? I informed them about this last summer when I was installing mine and got to thinking about how it should work. The sleeves are pinched between the shackles for correct spacing, and the bushing are designed to rotate around the sleeve and seal against the shackle at the ends with a molded lip. But there was no way for the grease to get there so I drilled a 1/8" hole in the center of all the bushings.